Elderly man sets son’s car on fire while he was in it because he had dinner with his former wife

By Mason White 5:23 PM January 6, 2015

Car on fire illustration

By: Tanya Malhotra
An elderly man was arrested on charges of attempted murder after allegedly trying to kill his son by setting his car on fire while he was in it, police in Japan said.

Wakayama Police said that they arrested 71-year-old Noriaki Kusaka, after trying to kill 40-year-old Akihiro Kusaka, because the victim had dinner with his mother, who is the suspect’s former wife.

According to the police investigation, the incident unfolded on Sunday night, when police received a call around 10:00 p.m., that a car was set on fire.

Police and firefighters arrived at the scene to find the victim’s car engulfed in flames in front of the house from where the call for help had been placed.

Upon entering the home, police found Akihiro Kusaka, with burns all over his body. He was taken to a nearby hospital and was said to be in stable condition.

Noriaki Kusaka was arrested at his home about a mile away from where the car was found in flames. Police said he had admitted to setting his son’s car on fire and said that he wanted to kill his him.

Neighbors said that the father and son had been living together during the past several months. On Sunday, they saw the father pour flammable liquid on the car and then setting it on fire with a lighter.